A member of the board of directors of RURCON, Rev Eric Ighalo has said the church remains God’s instrument of transformation.
He made the submission at a press conference on Thursday, October 14 to mark the 50th anniversary of RURCON, a faith-based development agency.
The conference was held at the African Centre for Theological Studies, Ilupeju, Lagos.
Ighalo who has been championing church cum community relationship for years said many are looking up to the church for impact.
He said both the young, old and the vulnerable in society are looking for where to draw strength.
Ighalo: Lagos churches have capacity
According to him, “The church has the capacity to give support and succour to those in need. The Lagos church, in particular, has the influence and power to make things happen.”
Ighalo said the problem of the church is more of its inability to harness resources for the common good and not necessarily that there are no resources to work with. “The funds are there but the church needs to put a structure in place to harness the funds,” he said.
RURCON is a global organisation with roots in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1971 by Mr. Peter Batcher and Da Bornaba Dusu to help churches with a vision to see the African church transformed so they could impact their communities.
It has since extended its reach to Africa, West Africa, and Nigeria. It was registered in Nigeria as an NGO in 1995 and has been instrumental to much developmental work in the north of Nigeria.
Collaboration with Lagos Churches
Executive Director, Changemakers of Africa Youth Empowerment Initiative Mrs. Lydia Ighalo, Representative of the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev Olumide Olugbenle, Board member of Rurcon, Rev Peace Goodey, Representative of Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Stephen Oyinlola, member Rurcon Board of Directors, Rev Eric Ighalo, and Provost African Centre for Theological Studies, Rev Ambrose Massaquoi at the press conference to commemorate the 50th anniversary of RURCON on October 14 at the African Centre for Theological Studies, Ilupeju, Lagos. RURCON used to be an acronym for Rural&Urban Resources Counselling, Outrech& Networking
At the press conference, a member of the board of trustees, Rev Peace Goodey said the coming years will be used to collaborate with churches in Lagos and help them impact their communities.
Goodey said, “fifty years is a major milestone for an institution, as it is for an individual. Our celebration is not so much of festivity, but to pause and look back at what RURCON as a faith-based development Agency and Professional Development counselling Institution has done across Africa. It is also a moment to look ahead at what can still be achieved especially now in Nigeria and in partnership with Lagos Churches, theological institutions, the Lagos State government, and the press”
Rev Goodey said the organisation would use the 50th anniversary to promote acceptance and implementation of the Church and Community Mobilisation Process tool in Lagos. This tool, which she described as a validated faith-based tool has been useful in community transformation globally.
She said the tool is already being used in five major Nigerian denominations and in over 500 local assemblies. Lagos churches in her words will benefit from this tool so as to strengthen RURCON’s “acknowledged impact across the world”
She noted that RURCON has worked in 36 African countries, adding also that it “has gained recognition as a development agency that assists churches, Christian organisations, and individuals including communities.”
RURCON, not a funding agency
Rev Goodey who is presiding over the forthcoming celebration of the organisation which holds from Friday, October 22 to Sunday, October 24 emphasised that RURCON is not a funding agency.
She said RURCON is “an enabling, equipping and facilitating organisation that believes in self-reliance, sustainable lifestyles, and livelihoods based on good Christian stewardship, focusing on the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised.”
Rev Stephen Oyinlola who represented the Lagos CAN chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria at the event expressed the willingness of the CAN in Lagos to support RURCON.
The Provost of ACTS, Rev Ambrose Massaquoi in his contribution at the press parley observed that the church has always been skeptical of genuine intentions of para-church bodies.
“When an organisation like RURCON comes with an idea, instead of the church to embrace it, they see the organisation as coming to invade their territory and such don’t render needed assistance,” he said. He also expressed hope that RURCON will not receive such treatment.
PFN ready to work with RURCON
Rev Olugbenle Olumide who represented the Lagos PFN chairman, Apostle Eyinnaya Okwuonu at the press conference said the PFN is already looking forward to collaborating with RURCON. He disclosed that the PFN recently established a new directorate known as the Directorate of Community and People Development which will help drive the collaboration.
The 50th-anniversary celebration has already begun across RURCON’s field offices in Jos and the UK. It will culminate in a major celebration in Lagos from October 22 to Sunday, October 24 with a courtesy visit to key church leaders. There will be a conference cum prayers at the premises of West Africa Theological Seminary, Gala exhibitions, lunch, and thanksgiving services in some participating churches.
